Odisha imposes ban on sale of guthka

Joining the league of tobacco-free states, the Odisha government on Tuesday imposed a ban on the manufacture, sale and consumption of guthka in the state.

“Rising up to its concern for healthy living of common people, the state government has decided to ban tobacco containing gutkha according to section 234 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation, 2011,” Health and Family Welfare minister Damodar Rout said.

He said, the Supreme Court and different high courts had earlier directed the states to slap such a ban as the nicotine-contained chewing masalas cause diseases like cancer.

Odisha is the 15th state in the country to ban guthka. Earlier 14 states, including Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, had imposed such ban. “After approval the proposal by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, we have banned gutkha throughout the state”, Rout added.

He said, the state government will come out with a notification in this regard within next two days detailing the modalities of implementing the decision.